Hand warmer



J. W. SMITH HAND WARMER Dec. z5, 1951 Filed May 8, 1948 INVENTOR -JOHNW. SMITH Mr/ZW ATTOR Patented ec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT 1Of" FICE ,'579,6) nimh WARMER John W. Smith, Minneapolis, ii'ptiit'atioiiniet 1948, sedative. etitt Y s claims.- (ol. @1262-2083 e My inventionrelates` to hand' Warnier-s andinas for an object to provide warmerIadapted to 'produce heat at a iiicd'erate teinlratui'e.

Another object ef the intenti si'des nrovlding' a warmer in which theamount of heat 'produced iiiay be readilycontiolled; u

A still yfurti'iei 'ohj'ect ef the iiiven 'ori lresides providing we'ieiwhich ease' to start and which 'will een'tliiiue to function withoutinterli'itiei.- n

A 'still further bliet 'the invention "esid's iin brovidii-ig a handwarmer halvl a cept'acle for a liquid "fuel 'and in employing a burnerutiliz# insl 'a iiei'tible fibrous combustion member colitaining acatalylic ge'rit and disposed in the path of thegfiimes emanating". fromthe fuel in said re"- ceptacl. l

object of the invention resides in providing the burner with a core andwindingV the com; bustion member upon 'said corea` A feature of theinvention resides in constructing'f the `core Jhelical iri` forni withthe t'zoiii'relii-v tions thereof spaced froin one a-iiotlieii An objectof the invention resides winding the combustion element upon theexterior of the eonvolutions of the core and in a` manner to cause thec'onvolutions of the combustion element to cross the convolutions of thecore;

A still further obect of the invention resides in winding the combustionelem-ent in 'one forni of the invention directly about the convolutionsof the core and in a manner so that the core is `coms-1 pletely orpartly covered.`

Another object of the invention l'res'i'desin at#- taching the ends ofthe combustion element to the core by pinching the same in betweencertain of the convolutions of the core at the ends of the same. K l

` -An object of the invention resides in provid-'mg the receptacle witha, neck having an outlet there- I and through which thefumes from theliquid fuel emanate.Y i

A feature of the invention resides in providing the burner with atubular housing `adanted to :tit over said neck and to detachably holdthe burner mounted on the receptacle.

An object of the invention resides in providing said housing with anopening to permit of entry of air to said combustion element and tofurther provide a sleeve sli-dable along said housing for regulating thearea of said opening.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parte and in the details 'of construction hereinafter.illustrated and/oidescribed.

lIl)

-Iii the drawifn I I Fie. `1 l is a firent elevational view of a `handWarnier lillustratin 'an embodiment ofmy invention with a portion!thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken lori lline 2&2 of lFifi. 1^.

Fia. 8 is "a perspective view of the parts of the invention detached'from oneanotlier.

Fig. 4 is 'an lenlarged elevational sectional view of 'a portion of theburner taken on line 4;-4 of Fig; 2'.

Fien 5` is a cross sectional view taken. on line 5115 of Fig. 4.

Fig; 6 is a view sim-ilito Fig. 4 "of a medidos,"-` tior of theinvention. Y

Fig; 7l is a 'cross sectional view eimilar to Fig' 5 taken `on line`1121' of Figi. 6:

The instant invention comprises a receptacle Il) for liquid fuelwhich-consists f a body II stamped from sheet inetal and :termed withsidet I2, ends i3 and a bottom I4; The upper end 'of the body II is openand has attached to it a top I5 which has a fla-nge I6 of the sameconfigura;- tion as the body II but slightly smaller in dimen-y` sionsand which 4is pressed into the upper endof the body. I I to irictionallyholdA the parts attached to one another; The top I5 has formed on itneck` I'I which has an opening I8 the same serving as an outlet -for thefumes of the liquid fuel contained within the receptacle IU. rThe inf`terior `of the receptacle I is filled with absorbent such as cottonwhich is indicated at I9 and which holds the liquid fuel introduced intothe recep; tacle Ill through the opening I8'. The `said absorbentprevents the Yfuel from spilli-ng and causes the same to travel bycapillary attraction to the portion 2 Io the same where the `fumes. fromthe liquid :fuel travel outwardly from the outlet I8 in neck Il.

The invention includes a. burner 22 which cn sists of an elongatedflexible combustion member or l'eni'ent 23 which is constructed ofasbestos or some other similar fbrous material; This com'L bastionmember er element kprovic'le'ui with a catalytic agent which is'incorporated therein in the following manner. The asbestos is immersedin a 5 to Y10% solution 'of platinic "ehlrid or palladium chl'rid.Alfter saturation the asbestos is heated to a temeratire of 'about51200" Fahren heit which evaperates the water and 'converts the residueinto a substance ordinarily known ag platinum black or 'alladiuiiiblack; This sub1 stance -se'ves as a catalytic agent which 'aids iiioxidation of the runes troni the liciid -fliel and causes 'combustion ata relatively 'slow rate.

The combustion member or element 23v is mounted upon a core or support24. Core 24 is constructed of wire which is coiled to form a helix 25having spaced convolutions 26. The ends of the helix 25 are formed withhooks 21 and by means of which the core or support is supported. Core 24is attached to a housing or frame 28. The housing 28 is tubular in formhaving a tubular skirt 29 which fits over and frictionally engages. theneck |1"ofjtop.|5.toho1d the burner detachably'secured to the receptacleID. The housing or frame 28 is formed with arms 3| at the ends of thesame and which extend upwardly therefrom. These arms are,-4

sorbent and to be maintained in the portion 2| of the absorbent at theoutlet of the receptacle I0 formed by the opening I8. In starting thewarmer, the combustion member or element 23 is heated with a match orcigarette lighter. The heat so produced causes the liquid at the exposedsurface of the portion 2| of the absorbent I9 in neck to evaporate andthe fumes from the said liquid pass through the passageways 35 'aboutthe `convolutions `.of the 'said combustion member. The `fuel then-becomes ignited and burns by combining With the oxygen of the air*entering the chamber 31 through the openings 3.9 lQombustion isassisted by means of the catalytic agent formed on the combustion member23 and maintains combustion as long as the fuel to the combustion memberor element. For the housing 28, lugs 33 are struck out of thegmetal.-

of the arms 3| and bent' inwardly into the interior of the housing. Thehooks; 21 on the ends of ,thecore or support 24 ,are hooked over theselugs and the core thus supported. The combustion member orV elementr 2 3is wound upon the exterior of the convolutions26 of core or support 24.If the helix 25 is a right hand helix, the convolutions are wound inamanner to form a left hand helixwhereby convolutions 34 are formed onthecombustion member -or element 23 and which cross the convolution 26.The convolutions 34 are also spaced from one another to providepassageways35,therebetween and. through which air may circulate aboutthe said,..convolutions. Theends ofthe combustion member or4 element 23are held attached to thecoreor support 24 by pinching .the samebetweenthe end convolution 4| of the core 24 and-the adjoiningconvolution .-gf.. For controlling the rateof combustion, a sleeve 46vis employed which isof the same .shape asthe housing 28 and whichencircles thev same.. .This sleeve tssnugly about said housing andmay beslid longitudinally with respect. to the same. The. said.v sleeve servestoincrease or. decrease thesize of theopenings 32 -and thus serves asadamperfor .controlling theairadmitted to the combustion.element.4 :Theburner 22 and associated parts are enclosedby means of a Vcap 36-whichis of similar construction to the body of-receptacle I0:V This cap.snugly-fits over the protrudingportion of the iiange i6 of top l5 andfrictionallyengages saidflange to hold the capl detachably mounted onthe receptacle. The said cap has a chamber 31 withinthe same which re.ceives theburner22. The parts are so propor-A tioned that. the saidburner and associated parts are held in spaced relation to the Wallsofthe cap 36,.whereby undue heating of the same is prevented. The cap 36has a front wall 38 in whicha number of air inlets 39 are formed and byAmeans of which air maybe introduced into the chamber 3.1 .forthepurposeof supporting combustion at. the burner 22 vand by means of whichtheproducts of combustion may escape. ,The methodof using theinventionis as follows:

v.Cap 36 is ylrst removed; and the burner22 subsequently removed. Avolatile liquid fuel such as .naphtha, high test gasoline, benzene,heptane orrelated compounds or alcohol is poured in the receptacle ll`through the opening I8 in the neck l1. The absorbent` I9 absorbs thisliquid fueland prevents the same from spilling. At the; Sametimecapillary attraction causes the liquidfuel to. be dispersed rthroughoutthe abremains in the absorbent |9. In operation, theVcorr'lbusti'on''member or element 23 glows at a relatively lowtemperature without the production of any flame. The heat produced bysaid combustion element warms the cap- 36 and also the receptacle i0giving off heat at a fairly low temperature so that the device can bereadily held vin the hand without danger of burning `or excessivediscomfort. The hand warmer may be placed in the po c ketor glove of theuser and will produce suilicient heat to prevent numbness ordiscomfortto the user While out in the cold.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modication of the invention. Due to thesimilarity of the construction of this form of the invention Vwith thatheretofore described, the description Vof the similar parts thereof willnot be repeated andthe samereferencenumerals preceded by the digit lWiILbe-usedto designate corresponding parts. 1 In this form of theinvention the vconvolutions |26 of the core or support l|.24- areconsiderably spaced andthe combustion member or element |23 wounddirectlyupon these con-I Volutions. In this manner the combustionmembergis formedwith convolutions 42 which conjointly form a helix 443.The end convolution |4| of the core or support |24 is brought into closeproximity to rthe adjoining convolutions |26 ,permitting of pinching theVend 4of the combustion memberor element `|23 therebetween and holdingthe same lattached to the core. Core |24 in this form of ,theinventionis constructed as a compression coil springand is held.attached to thehousing or frame' |28 by means of nubs 44 whichr arepressed inwardly'fromthe arms I3| The device is extremely simpleinconstruction and convenient forfuse. The device will operate a numberof hours on one filling of liquid fuel.4 The temperature of thedevicedoes not become so great that discomfort is given to the user. Atthesame timethe device maybe placed within the glove or pocket of theuser Without burning or. injuring'fthe-clothing. ofthe user.- Since noname resultslin the combustion ofthe fuel, no. danger from firekispresent in the use ofthe device. The user may adjust the temperatureby controlling the amount of air reaching the combustion member bymovingthe damper sleeve relative to the housing and-thusfregulating. the sizeof the air opening to the combustionelement. i x

`.Changes inthe specific form of my invention, asherin described, maybemade within the the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including asupport and an elongated fibrous combustion promoting element mounted onsaid support and formed with spaced convolutions providing passagewaystherebetween and through which the fumes may pass.

2. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including acore and an elongated flexible fibrous combustion promoting elementwound on said core to form spaced convolutions providing passagewaystherebetween and through which the fumes may pass.

3. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having arms extending outwardlytherefrom, a helical core extending between said arms and having spacedconvolutions and an elongated flexible fibrous combustion promotingelement wound upon the exterior of said core and forming spacedconvolutions to provide passageways therebetween through which the fumesmay pass.

4. fn a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having arms extending outwardlytherefrom, a helical core extending between said arms and having spacedconvolutions and an elongated flexible fibrous combustion promotingelement wound upon the exterior of said core and forming spacedconvolutions to provide passageways therebetween through which the fumesmay pass, the ends of the combustion element being pinched in betweencertain of the convolutions of the core.

5. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a. burnervolutions and providing passageways therebetween through which the fumesmay pass.

6. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having spaced supports extendingoutwardly therefrom, a helical core extending between said supports andan elongated flexible brous combustion promoting element wound upon saidcore and formed with spaced convolutions to provide passagewaystherebetween through which the fumes may pass.

7. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having spaced supports extendingoutwardly therefrom, lugs extending inwardly from said supports, a coilspring having spaced convolutions disposed between said supports, theends of said coil spring being hooked on said lugs, and an elongatedflexible fibrous combustion promoting element wound upon the coil springand forming spaced convolutions to provide passageways therebetweenthrough which the fumes may pass.

8. In a hand warmer, a receptacle for a volatile liquid fuel and havinga discharge outlet for the fumes emanating from the fuel, a burnersuperimposing the outlet of said receptacle, said burner including aframe supported on said receptacle and having spaced supports extendingoutwardly therefrom, a helical core extending between said supports andhaving spaced convolutions of a predetermined hand, and an elongatedlexible brous combustion promoting element wound upon the exterior ofsaid core to form spaced convolutions having a hand opposite to the handof the convolutions of said core.

JOHN WM. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,266,162 Rosin May 14, 19181,502,251 Kanazawa l- July 22, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date17,093 Great Britain of 1901 376,133 France Aug. 1, 1907 548,192 FranceOct. 14, 1922 399,642 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1933

